Paul Flannery began his journalism career answering phones at the Boston Herald before embarking on a cross-country odyssey that included stops in Oregon, Virginia and Philadelphia. He then returned home to Boston, where he was the online editor at Boston magazine and began covering the Celtics in 2008. Flannery also contributes to the Phoenix and teaches sports journalism at Boston University.

It is beyond foolish to bury a team like the Celtics before they are lying in the cold, dead ground. They are too tough. Too weather-beaten and battle-scarred to simply call it a day after a couple of losses away from the Garden. They have also rallied too many times before.

MIAMI — Throughout their four-year run, the Celtics have always had the answers, always had the counter to whatever was thrown their way. They knew deep down that their team framework was strong enough to handle any star and any situation.

MIAMI -- Here is where we find out just what this Celtics team is really all about. In case there was any doubt – and there shouldn’t have been – the Heat will push them in a way they haven’t been pushed this year.

There will be seven members of the 2011 Eastern Conference All-Star team on the floor when the Celtics tip off with the Heat Sunday afternoon in Game 1 of their conference semifinal series. The most in any series since 1982-83 when the 76ers and Lakers met in the NBA finals.

NEW YORK — All around the cramped and joyless interview room in the bowels of Madison Square Garden, reporters raised their eyebrows and began working their fingers and thumbs on their mobile devices. Really? Mike D’Antoni went there?

NEW YORK -- About an hour or so before the Celtics went out and drove a stake through the hearts of the Knicks and a wild Madison Square Garden crowd, Paul Pierce moved through the tiny visitors locker room.

In the first game of the 2010 playoffs the Celtics found themselves trailing Miami by 14 points in the third quarter. They appeared lifeless and the energy in the Garden matched their play. Then suddenly it all came together.

The moment of doubt for Jermaine O’Neal came at the moment of truth. When the lights go out and the doctor goes to work. He had tried to do everything he could to avoid the surgery -- and took a fair amount of criticism for that decision in the process -- but after all the rehab, all the exercises, he was left with no choice.

Way back in mid-December, the Celtics and Knicks played a classic, possibly the game of the year in the NBA regular season. It featured everything from in-game comebacks to gritty performances and late-game heroics.

"I think Kevin loves it the way it is. He’s just kind of playing. The whole 'I hate Kevin' thing is gone and he just played through it and kept playing. That’s what great about him. He didn’t care if they did. That’s the best part.

The Celtics don’t just lose games these days, they get taken apart and embarrassed on national television. For the second time in four days, they went into a contender’s arena in what was considered a big game on normal rest and got beat by double digits.

All week long, the Celtics kept saying that they didn’t believe in statement games — which is good because the only message they sent in a 97-81 loss to the Bulls on Thursday is that Chicago is clearly the class of the Eastern Conference. At least in the regular season.

Over the next week, the Celtics will play five games against a potential first round opponent in Philadelphia, the top two teams in the East – Chicago and Miami – and just for fun also get the Wizards for two sets of back-to-backs.

Dickerson and Price discuss the RB position and who will get a majority of the workload. They also talk about missing Revis and the CB position. The boys also get into more Deflategate discussions with callers.

Dickerson and Price are live from Fenway today and kick off NFL Sunday discussing some of the events at Pats training camp this week. Then they get into the court battle between Brady and Goodell and where we go from here? The guys give their predictions on just how many games Brady will in fact sit out. They get into the Chris Mortenson situation after he backed out of the D&C interview. Finally, Trags (Mike Petraglia) of WEEI.com joins the boys live from training camp.

How long will this rebuild take? How much money will it take to keep Bae Crowder? Are Draft Picks even worth anything? With the Danny Ainge not landing any big names in the draft, and unable to lure any big names in free agency, Sam and Ben discussed if the Celtics are doomed moving forward.

Joe and Dave are joined by Pedro who was at the game and had his number 45 retired by the Red Sox in a very touching pregame ceremony. Pedro talks about going into the Hall of Fame, his time in Boston and love for the game of baseball.

The awesomely knowledgeable Fluto Shinzawa calls DJ, Naoko and Pete to talk about his thoughts on the future of the B's. He discusses his column from earlier this week on Cam Neely wanting to give Claude the ax earlier in the season but not getting the ok. Fluto shares his thoughts on Chiarelli's firing, the future for Claude and where the Bruins should go from here. He also gives his opinion on potential moves the team can make, who would fit in here, his thoughts on the NHL playoffs so far and more.

In the final hour of the "midseason finale" as DJ likes to call it, the crew discuss more about the future of the Bruins franchise, the possible power struggle in the front office and who should be the head coach going forward. They talk to intelligent and talented Fluto Shinzawa about all of these thing and more in an excellent interview, and finally, DJ says THANK YOU!

Intern extraordinaire Lucy joins Jerry once again to discuss the most vexing questions in the history of mankind: can men and women coexist? What are the differences between how men and women think? And how mean can women really be?

If you play Fantasy Football then you know there are several “Elephants in the Room!” And nobody is talking about them. Are they afraid? We’re not! The Dallas Running game, Leveon Bell, Demarco Murray & Ryan Matthews in the Philly backfield, the Saints offense and so much more. Right here, WEEI’s own Jim Hackett and Pete Davidson cover all of the main “Elephants in the Room” to help you get the edge for your upcoming drafts. Enjoy!